Another dead platypus was found in Warburton along the Yarra River on 24 November.
Warburton local Trevor Davies was walking along the Yarra when he came across the critter half submerged and stuck on a branch.
“I saw something odd in the river, stuck in a pile of branches… so I went in and then found out it was actually a dead platypus.
“It was unfortunate, it doesn’t make me feel good when I see the poor little guys like that,” Mr Davies said.
Mr Davies regularly patrols the Yarra in Warburton to remove illegal netting, discarded fishing hooks and other pollutants which could potentially harm the river life.
“I was actually just walking around the river like I normally do every morning, and I was just looking for fishing buoys, and tightening them, marking them down so I go back and then retrieve them.”
He said there were no fishing hooks or nets around the platypus, but its head was caved in as if someone had “beat the crap out of the thing”.
Due to the state of the platypus, Mr Davies estimated it had been dead for roughly week but wasn’t visible due to the water levels.
A Conservation Regulator spokesperson called on anyone with information too come forward.
“Conservation Regulator is seeking information from the public in relation to the death of a platypus found near Warburton.
“Anyone with information relating to this incident, or any incident of wildlife cruelty, please contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.”
On Friday 11 July a Yarra Ranges Council worker removed an illegal fishing trap from the Little River at Yarra Junction which was found to contain two dead adult male platypuses. A bystander informed him that the previous day another platypus had been killed in the same trap.
In May, Star Mail reported on a similar death of a platypus found in discarded fishing nets in Warburton East.
Mr Davies said the concerning trend of platypus death emphasised the need for better education, especially for non-locals who aren’t aware of the wildlife in the area.
“They really need to do some sort of educational program around them, especially for out-of-towners coming in because they don’t understand anything around here. Maybe the government should be putting out more educational programs to help teach these new people coming out.”
Illegal or abandoned nets and traps in waterways are a threat to native wildlife including turtles, platypus and rakali.
All persons undertaking fishing or yabbying are reminded to check state recreational fishing regulations to ensure that the equipment they are using is allowable in order to avoid both heavy penalties and the risk of potentially killing platypuses and other aquatic wildlife.
But the death of the platypuses have been seen as a consequence of cuts to just under half of fisheries officers by the Allan Labor Government earlier this year.
The Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) reduced its overall staffing by 50 per cent and slashed the number of compliance officers across the state from 73 to 35 in June.
“They’re the ones that are cutting all these people which used to patrol everything and now we don’t have that, so we put the blame on the state government for not funding it properly,” Mr Davies said.
Victorian National Parks Association (VNPA) parks and nature campaigner Jordan Crook said it was heart wrenching to witness the damage caused by a lack of enforcement.
“There’s less regulators on the beat making sure traps like this don’t get set and encouraging folks to use traps that are safe for platypus while also still being able to catch yabbies,” Mr Crook said.
Fishers can ensure their equipment is legal by checking the VFA website at vfa.vic.gov.au or getting a free recreational fishing guide from a local tackle shop.
